Thanksgiving often conjures up Rockwell images of families gathered around the dinner table loaded with homemade turkey and all the fixings. But for many restaurants, including dozens in San Diego County, it means packed dining rooms and record sales.

Reasons for dining out on Thanksgiving

31%: Because people don’t want to deal with the hassle of cooking and cleaning

22%: Because they’re traveling and don’t have the ability to cook

15%: Simply prefer to dine out on holiday occasions

12%: Because they don’t have the space to host Thanksgiving

Source: National Restaurant Association 2011 survey

And while restaurants that are connected to hotels used to have a corner on the Thanksgiving dinner market, that is no longer the case.

Of consumers who choose to dine in a restaurant on Thanksgiving Day, less than one-quarter say they do so because they are traveling and unable to cook, said Annika Stenson, senior manager of research communications for the National Restaurant Association. By comparison, 46 percent say it’s either because they don’t want to deal with the hassle of cooking and cleaning up or because they simply prefer eating out.

"When it comes to meals at their own or someone else’s house, 63 percent of consumers say they order restaurant takeout for all or part of their Thanksgiving meals because it’s convenient and gives them more time to spend with family and friends," Stenson said.

Thanksgiving Creep, or the trend among retailers to open earlier and earlier on Thursday before Black Friday, will likely boost traffic and sales for restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving, she added, especially those near shopping centers. Seven out of 10 Black Friday shoppers already visit a restaurant while bargain hunting, and the earlier openings mean many will be out a day sooner this year.

More than 75 San Diego-area restaurants listed on OpenTable.com as of this week plan to dish out their own versions of the holiday meal, including at least 30 that are not inside hotels. Most offer a prix fixe menu that includes wine for adults, and a less expensive prix fixe menu for children. Some, like Bali Hai in Shelter Island, serve a buffet.

Larry Baumann, co-owner of Bali Hai and its sister establishment, Tom Ham's Lighthouse, said running the restaurants is his family's Thanksgiving tradition, and a bright spot in a month that is typically a tough one for restaurants on the waterfront.